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LetMyPeopleVote

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54. Statement from Senator Kellly

Mon Jan 5, 2026, 12:39 PM

Jan 5

Link to tweet

Over twenty-five years in the U.S. Navy, thirty-nine combat missions, and four missions to space, I risked my life for this country and to defend our Constitution – including the First Amendment rights of every American to speak out. I never expected that the President of the United States and the Secretary of Defense would attack me for doing exactly that.

My rank and retirement are things that I earned through my service and sacrifice for this country. I got shot at. I missed holidays and birthdays. I commanded a space shuttle mission while my wife Gabby recovered from a gunshot wound to the head– all while proudly wearing the American flag on my shoulder. Generations of servicemembers have made these same patriotic sacrifices for this country, earning the respect, appreciation, and rank they deserve.

Pete Hegseth wants to send the message to every single retired servicemember that if they say something he or Donald Trump doesn’t like, they will come after them the same way. It’s outrageous and it is wrong. There is nothing more un-American than that.

If Pete Hegseth, the most unqualified Secretary of Defense in our country’s history, thinks he can intimidate me with a censure or threats to demote me or prosecute me, he still doesn’t get it. I will fight this with everything I’ve got — not for myself, but to send a message back that Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump don’t get to decide what Americans in this country get to say about their government.

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Highlight:

Pentagon cuts Sen. Mark Kelly's military retirement pay as punishment over 'illegal orders' video By Zachary Cohen 4 MI [View all] LiberalArkie Jan 5 OP

The "We can do anything you can't stop us from doing" clause. Turbineguy Jan 5 #1

Yes, because as spoiled children they never learned about rules. Were all our leaders the "Golden Child" growing up? LiberalArkie Jan 5 #3

Sue their arses off NotHardly Jan 5 #47

Can any court stop it? Until it reaches the supreme, that is question everything Jan 5 #2

What is this thing called "Court"? LiberalArkie Jan 5 #5

Any Federal court can halt this pending an appeal by Sen. Kelly, MarineCombatEngineer Jan 5 #6

Thanks. I also think that he has a pension as an astronaut, no? question everything Jan 5 #7

I'm not sure about that, MarineCombatEngineer Jan 5 #8

And since the amount of the pensin soldierant Jan 6 #113

If he was active duty while an astronaut it should be part of his Navy pension. Irish_Dem Jan 5 #12

CAPT Kelly was a military officer detailed to NASA. He was never a NASA employee in the civil service. This action is 24601 Jan 6 #117

The most deserved grade reduction I ever heard about COL Mustard Jan 5 #22

Plus, as a Senator, he has at least a couple layers of immunity. Hassin Bin Sober Jan 5 #26

His name is James Grazioplene jmowreader Jan 5 #51

Yes, that's the one COL Mustard Jan 5 #68

I never had the displeasure of dealing with him, probably because he was a tanker... jmowreader Jan 5 #72

When were you at FSB? A good friend of mine was there in the early 1970s. COL Mustard Jan 5 #82

Veterans Day 1986 to April 1992 jmowreader Jan 5 #88

That would have been a fantastic time to be there! COL Mustard Jan 5 #96

Wonder which court would take this lawsuit? bluestarone Jan 5 #65

Or, maybe you know, could it be: MarineCombatEngineer Jan 5 #69

It will go where's it's filed by. Most likely DC. No reason it shouldn't be DC Hassin Bin Sober Jan 5 #110

didn;t this need a court martial or at least art 15? rampartd Jan 5 #97

Thank you orangecrush Jan 5 #102

Yeah, that will be a law suit the Pentagon won't win. Plus just looks petty which is the Trump admin to a tee. dutch777 Jan 5 #4

Once again... ScratchCat Jan 5 #9

100% vapor2 Jan 5 #35

Seriously!!! yellow dahlia Jan 5 #71

Kelly serves on the Armed Services Committee, and the Select Committee on Intelligence... Grins Jan 5 #10

As the reputation of the US Military takes a hit. ... littlemissmartypants Jan 5 #11

Show me the charging documents. Grins Jan 5 #13

How well versed are you on the UCMJ? Officers resign commision, they aren't discharged (honorably). marble falls Jan 5 #41

The military will start to turn against Trump. Irish_Dem Jan 5 #14

So far, the military have been Diddling Donny's patsies. Safe as Milk Jan 5 #45

I know, the military is up his ass now. Irish_Dem Jan 5 #58

That would be great, if they did. yellow dahlia Jan 5 #73

Right now they are up Trump's ass. Irish_Dem Jan 5 #76

kellly should sue kegsbreath personally moonshinegnomie Jan 5 #15

These nasty bastards will continue until the American voters stop them. walkingman Jan 5 #16

Yeah, well.. whathehell Jan 5 #46

What about the other Senators who made the same statement? Were they not all military veterans? Midnight Writer Jan 5 #17

The other lawmakers either never retired from service or come from intelligence agencies outside the UCMJ's reach chowder66 Jan 5 #19

Thanks. Midnight Writer Jan 5 #20

I looked it up before I saw your post. Glad I could share what I learned. chowder66 Jan 5 #24

That is my question, too. Deuxcents Jan 5 #21

I posted an answer to the question above. chowder66 Jan 5 #25

They will lose in court malaise Jan 5 #18

Suing the military is a tricky business. ... marble falls Jan 5 #31

The problem is this ScratchCat Jan 5 #48

One of the first things I signed when enlisting was a waiver to my access to the Bill of Rights. The very next ... marble falls Jan 5 #55

Two points in your post LogDog75 Jan 5 #78

I signed those in the Cleveland Federal Building on Feb 3, 1972. It was a shock when I got them. It still is with me. .. marble falls Jan 5 #81

I, too, stand by what I wrote LogDog75 Jan 5 #105

Courts have recognized free speech rights are curtailed madville Jan 5 #92

The military member is responsible for their actions LogDog75 Jan 5 #107

Kelly earned every penny of that, and his rank. babylonsister Jan 5 #23

He was literally just restating the military code! nt SunSeeker Jan 5 #44

This will not stand. Hogsbreath is turning the Pentagon into a chicken shit outfit. ... marble falls Jan 5 #27

Will Flynn be next? SheltieLover Jan 5 #28

and his active dip shit brother Historic NY Jan 5 #60

Oh yes. I'd forgotten about him SheltieLover Jan 5 #61

Give me a fucking break, that's absolute nonsense. 🤬 Dave Bowman Jan 5 #29

Childish nonsense at that! marble falls Jan 5 #38

What bullshit. TickTock, HogsBreath. Joinfortmill Jan 5 #30

This is such bullshit. 3catwoman3 Jan 5 #32

What a punk odins folly Jan 5 #33

You mean like the January 6, 2020 Insurrection? LogDog75 Jan 5 #108

Correct odins folly Jan 5 #109

Sue the crap out of hegsbreath vapor2 Jan 5 #34

I first read that as: "Slap the crap out of hogsbreath". As a dyslexic, I'm up for either! marble falls Jan 5 #36

Hegseth says Sen. Mark Kelly will receive administrative punishment for video about lawful orders LetMyPeopleVote Jan 5 #37

Just because he says he is going to do it doesn't mean he can or will. I am pretty Bev54 Jan 5 #39

So, we have a decorated, retired Navy captain AND former astronaut losing his retirement pay? hamsterjill Jan 5 #40

And combat veteran at that. MarineCombatEngineer Jan 5 #49

I'm sure it'll help recruiters bunches. littlemissmartypants Jan 5 #70

Recruit?? Traildogbob Jan 5 #86

Don't they still have recruiters? littlemissmartypants Jan 5 #89

They do Traildogbob Jan 5 #90

I think I remember Codifer Jan 5 #93

College football was plastered with Traildogbob Jan 5 #94

Roger that, Tdb! Thanks ❤️ littlemissmartypants Jan 5 #111

🤜🏼🤛🏼 Traildogbob Jan 5 #112

Memo to Pete Hogsbreath AverageOldGuy Jan 5 #42

Ret. USMC here, MarineCombatEngineer Jan 5 #50

FIGHT BACK AGAINST THESE TRUMP CRIMINALS! democrank Jan 5 #43

Turn you angst into..... MarcoZandrini Jan 5 #83

Thanks for the tip, MarcoZandrini. democrank Jan 5 #100

I feel bad for him and his family FredGarvin Jan 5 #52

Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 5 #53

At least no limit to what and how they've tried to subvert. marble falls Jan 5 #57

Statement from Senator Kellly LetMyPeopleVote Jan 5 #54

Well, since there is no such thing as the Department of War, it has little lasting effect. sinkingfeeling Jan 5 #56

Punishment for telling servicemembers that they should always make sure to follow the law. Mister Ed Jan 5 #59

Kegsbreath isn't qualified to hand-wash Kelly's jockstrap. NBachers Jan 5 #62

and yet we did nothing to the traitorous general when we were in power samsingh Jan 5 #63

This message was self-deleted by its author Zenlitened Jan 5 #75

What an asshole.nt jfz9580m Jan 5 #64

If this does go to court... Pluvious Jan 5 #66

It's "seditious" and "reckless conduct" to reaffirm the US Code of Military Justice?? Martin Eden Jan 5 #67

It isn't seditious or reckless, that's why Mark Kelly should fight this in court ... he'll win for sure FakeNoose Jan 5 #84

It would be a military court Martin Eden Jan 5 #104

"Department of WAR" - courtesy of B.See Jan 5 #74

Flag officers and other high-ranking officers and civilians must be very disappointed to have to toe the line to this mi Norrrm Jan 5 #77

D-I-S-G-U-S-T-I-N-G Faux pas Jan 5 #79

I think Senator Kelly will win this battle LogDog75 Jan 5 #80

Another item for the list of things to to when the Democrats are in charge again. Buddyzbuddy Jan 5 #85

OK Pete we will remember that is an option for once you are out of your position IbogaProject Jan 5 #87

When Senator Kelly sues, he will have fun using these statements from Hegseth and Bondi LetMyPeopleVote Jan 5 #91

Hogsbreath sucks... GiqueCee Jan 5 #95

I prefer Kegsbreath, but otherwise, yeah.... sickening LymphocyteLover Jan 5 #98

This just sucks. Talk about "weaponization of government". I thought DOD might be above that. I was wrong. Evolve Dammit Jan 5 #99

FUCK YOU DRUNKEN ASSHOLE orangecrush Jan 5 #101

Almost seems like Russia has taken over our government thought crime Jan 5 #103

Sounds like a lawsuit to me. mdbl Jan 5 #106

The Senators and Representaives ahould read the UCMJ text into the Congressional Record. rickford66 Jan 6 #114

If There Is An Actual Letter OhioTim Jan 6 #115

Title of OP is not the same as the actual title of the article posted at the CNN website. Emile Jan 6 #116